Permutation-lock.



PATENTBD DEG. 22,1903.

M. B. MILLS.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1903.

NO MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

No. 747,625. I

M. B. MILLS. PERMUTATION LOCK.

- APPLICATION FILED UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PERM UTATlON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,625, dated December 22, 1903.

Application filed September 19, 1903. Serial No. 173,853. (No model.)

T at whom it Wtay concern.-

Be it known that I, MORTIMER B. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Permutation-Looks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel and comparatively simple construction of permutationdock which shall be susceptible of a great range of combinations and he means of which the lock may be manipulated for opening it without the aid of visual inspection.

My invention is illustrated in a simple form in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the lock applied to a door by a View in rear elevation with the releasing-handle in its preferred form of a cover for the operating-handles lowered. Fig. 2 shows the same with the cover raised. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the lock with the cover down; Fig. 4, an edge view of the same showing the cover in its raised position by a dotted representation; Fig. 5, a view like that presented by Fig. 4, but with the cover raised and omitting the rotary permutation head or tumbler and details cooperating therewith to display to view parts covered by them; Fig. 6, a plan view of the adjustable face-plate of the tumbler; Fig. 7, a similar view of the tumbler without the face-plate; Fig. 8, a perspective view showing separated three parts of the driving mechanism provided for each ratchet, and Fig. 9 a plan view presenting a modification of the adjustable face-plate on the tumbler.

The mechanism of the lock is supported on a suitable base, represented as a plate A, forming a door and carrying the bolt B. As shown and preferred, the bolt comprises two parts-namely, the longitudinally-movable headed section B retractible against the resistance of a spring Ct tending to shoot it and having a flange-abutment 0. on itsinner end, and the longitudinally-reciprocable locking-seotion B, seating on the section B to abut normally against the flange ct. The

bolt-section B seats upon the section 13*, and the two bolt-sections are coincidently slotted at a and seat at the slots over a rigid guide-lug a projecting from the face of the base-plate, shorter than the slots to permit movement of the bolt-sections and having a journaling-pin a projecting from its outer face. Astud c limits the outward movement of the bolt-section B, which carries on its face a stop Z) and an abutment-stud b to be engaged by the crank d on the inner end of a rotary knob d or handle journaled in the base-plate for retracting the'bolt, as hereinafter described.

On the pin a is journaled the tumbler C, shown in its preferred form of a disk having a recess 0 in its edge and provided with one or more tipsf or teeth, four being shown set radially in the disk equidistant apart to project beyond its periphery. A face-plate C, also shown of disk shape to conform to the tumbler, is journaled on the pin a and contains a peripheral notch g and an arcshaped slot g, through which to fasten it adjustably, for the purpose hereinafter described, on the tumbler O with a set-screw y from which the tumbler is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to be connected with a rigid pin h on the bed-plate A by a spiral spring h. In the modified construction of the face-plate 0 (represented in Fig. 9) the slot g is shown to be provided in a position opposite that in Figs. 3 and 6 to admit the set-screw g and an arc-shaped slot 9 is formed in the plate to admit through it studs g and 9 projecting from the tumbler C, from either of which to connect the latter with the pin it by the spring It, all for the reversing purpose hereinafter explained.

Adjacent to the path of the teethfis supported on the bed-plate the actuating mechanism for the tumbler O. The preferred form of this actuating mechanism is that of a ratchet-wheel journaled on the bed-plate and provided with one or more studs projecting from its face to engage with the tip or tips f. As shown, two such ratchet-wheels D and I) are provided on opposite sides of an imaginary line drawn vertically through the axis of the tumbler 0, each being controlled by a spring 71, tending to return it to its normal position and provided with twenty teeth with ten holes is equidistant apart in its face and two studs Z inserted each into a different hole in the wheel D and one stud Z inserted into a hole in the wheel D. Itis preferred to thread the studs Zto screw them into the holes in the ratchets, and thereby ad apt them to be readily removed and adjusted in different holes for changing the permutation, as hereinafter described.

The driving mechanism as adapted for use with the ratchet form of the actuating mechanism illustrated is preferably that shown for each ratchet, of a crank-arm m on a rockshaft m, journaled in the bed-plate A, the crankarm having a curved finger extension m and carrying a stop-stud m a pawl 01, pivoted on the crank-arm to depend therefrom for engaging its free end with the ratchet, and a detent 0, pivotally mounted between its ends on the bed-plate to engage at its free end with the ratchet-teeth and connected by a spiral spring 13 with the pawl to retract the latter against a stop g on the bed-plate for limiting the outward movement of the pawl, the detent having an extension 0 to project into the path of a stop-stud 0 on the back of the ratchet-wheel, serving the purpose hereinafter explained. On the outer ends of the respective rock-shafts m are secured the operating-handles E and E for turning them to work the driving mechanism.

F is a lever or handle, shown in its preferred form of a cover for the operating-handles, hinged in an elongated slot 1' in the'bedplate near its upper end and havingits inner end connected by rods 8 s With the detents o, the rods passing loosely at their upper ends through a flange 25 on the inner part of the cover and'being stopped against the withdrawal therefrom by nuts t, thus to permit to the cover lost motion in closing and opening it.

The operation is as follows: The result to be attained is that by manipulating the handles E and E of rotating step by step in succession the ratchets D and D to engage their studs l With the tips f on the tumbler C, and thus turn the latter until the stud g on the plate 0 registers with the stop I) on the bolt B to permit the latter to be retracted by turning the handle (1. In thus turning the handle the crank d engages thestud b to move the bolt-section B, which abuts against the fiange Ct on the bolt-section B and thus effects retraction also of the latter, which forms the latch-bolt of the lock, though no such feature of the bolt is necessary to my invention, which is applicable to other varieties of bolt. In setting the combination reference is had to the position of the slot 9 relative to the stop I), which when out of registration with the slot abuts against the tumbler O to prevent retraction of the bolt. The position of the slot g may be varied according to desire, since the plate 0 is adjustable by turning it on the pin a upon loosening the set-screw g*, which after the adjustment is made is tightened to secure the plate with the slot in its adjusted position. To work the mechanism illustrated with the cover E raised for access to the handles, one handle is depressed a predetermined number of times and then the other is depressed a predetermined number of times and finally the first handle is again depressed also a predetermined number of times, each handle being retracted after each depression by the recoil of a spring 1). The parts, as shown, are so set that to effect the desired registration with the face-plate slot 9 the handle E is first depressed six times, then the handle E is depressed three times, and finally the handle E is again depressed four times.

With each depression of the handle E it turns the arm on upon it to engage the respective pawl it with a tooth of the ratchet D, and the successive depressions thus turn the ratchet step by step to engage immediately or after one or more steps a stud Z with a tip fin its path to turn the tumbler O, and thereby cause the slot g to approach its position of desired registration. Should the ratchet E be turned too far by even a single depression of the handle beyond the predetermined number of depressions, the stud Z, owing to the are through which it moves, will clear the tip against which it is acting, thereby freeing the tumbler O and permitting the recoil of the spring 72, to return it to its initial position, thereby frustrating that eifort toward producing the unlocking combination. When the handle E has been manipulated the required number of times, the operator depresses the handle E, say, three times, to effect the described step-by-step turning of the ratchet D by the action against it of the respective pawl 7t, thereby bringing the slot g still closer to its position of registration, and in this case also any excess beyond the predetermined number of handle depressions will, as described relative to the ratchet D, cause the stop Z on the ratchet D, cooperating with a tipf, to clear the latter, and thus cause the return of the tumbler C to its initial position with the upsetting effect already explained. Finally, the operator depresses the first handle E,say, four times, to bring the second stud Z on the ratchet D into engagement with a tip f in its path, and thus turn the tumbler C until the slot 9 registers with the stop I), when the bolt will yield to retraction by turning the knob 61. Meantime the detents 0 0 hold the ratchets, and thus the tumbler O, in the positions to which they have been actuated, and in the event of the operator attempting to turn either ratchet far enough to bring any one of several other studs l, which may be upon it, into engagement with a tipfin an endeavor to open the look by tampering with it he is prevented from so doing, since each ratchet can only be turned through part of acomplete revolution, because it is obstructed against further turning by the stop 0 upon it encountering the extension 0 on the respective detent. For the locking operation the bolt Bis shot by turning the knob d accordingly, thus taking the stop I) out of the slot g and freeing the tumbler C to permit it and the ratchets to be tion shown and described.

returned to their initial positions. This action ensues as the result of lowering the cover F, since that movement of the cover near the end of the movement engages its flange t with the nuts 25 on the rodss and raises them sufficiently to lift the detents out of engagement with the ratchets, thus freeing the latter to permit them to be turned backward by the recoil of their controlling-springs 71 and the tumbler O to be similarly turned by the recoil of its controlling-spring h.

By providing the slot 9 in the face-plate O with the two studs projecting through it from the tumbler O the springhmay be connected with the stud g instead of with the stud 9 as shown, to permit the ratchet D to be actuated first and last, when that ratchet would be provided with two of the studs Z and the ratchet D with only one stud. As will be seen, the adjustability of the face-plate increases the possible range of combinations of the permuting mechanism.

Obviouslythe combinations for opening the lock may be varied within a very extensive range, since the number of tipsf on the tumbler C may be varied according to desire, as also the positions of the studs Z on the ratchets relative to the tips and to each other, and the number of holesin each ratchet and their relative positions and the number of ratchmay be so varied. The simplest form of the mechanism would be a single tip on the tumbler and a single ratchet carrying one stud, adjustable or not, to engage the tip with the face-plate C, or particularly the slot g, either adjustable or permanently fixed in one position, as desired, and I desire to be understood as intending such construction to be within the scope of my invention and also that it shall include more extended forms of the mechanism, as Well as the particular construc- It should also be mentioned that the cover form of the releasing-handle F is a mere incident, being desirable as a means for shielding the operatinghandles E E in the locking condition of the mechanism; but for its primary releasing purpose the handle F may be provided in any other desired form. Moreover, the construction illustrated and described may be modified in matters of detail without departure from myinvention.

"What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying a projecting tip, a wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler and carrying a stud to engage said tip, and handleoperated step-by-step actuated driving mechanism for turning said wheel to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

2. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and having a tip projecting from its periphery, a wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler and having a stud projecting from its face to engage said tip, and handle-operated step-by-step actuated driving mechanism for turning said wheel to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

3. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying a projecting tip, a spring tending to return the tumbler to its normal position, a wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler and carrying a stud to engage said tip, a spring tending to return the wheel to its normal position, and handle-operated stepby-step actuated driving mechanism for turning said wheel to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

at. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of aspring-retracied tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying a projecting tip, a spring-retracted wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler, astud adjustable on the wheel to engage said tip, and handle-operated step-by-step actuated driving mechanism for turning said wheel to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

5. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying a projecting tip, a wheel journaled adjacent to the tumblerand carrying a stud to engage said tip, driving mechanism engaging said wheel, and a spring-retracted handle connected with said wheel for turning it step by step to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

6. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler carrying a projecting tip, a faceplate adjustably secured on the tumbler and provided with a slot to register with the bolt, a wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler and carrying a stud to engage said tip, and handle-operated step-by-step actuated driving mechanism for turning said wheel to turn said tumbler and with it said face-plate toward the registering position of the slot therein with the bolt.

7. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying projecting tips, wheels journaled adjacent to the tumbler at opposite sides of a line perpendicular to its axis and carrying studs to engage said tips, and handle-operated driving devices for turning the wheels step by step, in succession, to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

8. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying projecting tips, ratchetwheels journaled adjacent to the tumbler, holes in said wheels and studs therein removable to different holes to engage said tips, and spring-retracted handle-operated pawl devices engaging said wheels for turning them stop by step, in succession, to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

9. In a permutation-lock, the combination with abolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler carrying projecting tips, a face-plate adjustably secured on the tumbler and provided with a slot to register with the bolt, spring-retracted ratchet-wheels journaled adjacent to the tumbler, studs on said wheels to engage said tips, and spring-retracted handle-operated pawl devices engaging said wheels for turning them step by step, in succession, to turn said tumbler and with it said face-plate toward the registering position of the slot therein with the bolt.

10. In apermutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler carrying projecting tips, a face-plate adjustably secured on the tumbler and provided with a slot to register with the bolt, spring-retracted ratchet-Wheels journaled adjacent to the tumbler and provided with stud-holes, studs removably secured in said holes to engage said tips, and spring-retracted handle-operated pawl devices engaging said wheels for turning them step by step, in succession, to turn said tumbler and with it said face-plate toward the registering position of the slot therein with the bolt,

11. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying a projectingtip,a spring-retracted wheel journaled adjacent to the tumbler, a stud on the wheel to engage said tip, handle-operated step-bystep actuated driving mechanism for turning said Wheel to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position, and a releasing device for freeing said wheel from the driving mechanism to permit the retracting-springs of the wheel and tumbler to return them to normal position.

12. In a permntationdock, the combination with a bolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler carrying projecting tips, spring-retracted wheels journaled adjacent to the tumbler and carrying studs to engage said tips, handle-operated step-by-step actuated driving devices for turning the wheels, in succession, to turn said tumbler toward its boltunlocking position, and a releasing device forfreeing said wheels from the driving devices to permit the retracting-springs of the wheels and tumbler to return them to normal position.

13. In a permutation-lock,'the combination with a bolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler normally locking the, bolt and carrying projectingtips, spring-retracted ratchet-wheels carrying studs to engage said tips, a pawl and detent device for each wheel and a spring-retracted handle connected therewith for actnating said devices in succession for turning the respective wheels step by step to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position.

14. In a permutation-lock, the combination with abolt, of a spring-retracted tumbler normally locking the bolt and carrying projecting tips, spring-retracted ratchet-wheels carrying studs to engage said tips, a pawl and detent device for each wheel and aspring-retracted handle connected therewith for actuating said devices in succession for turning the respective wheels step by step to turn said tumbler toward its bolt-unlocking position, and a releasing device connected with the detents for disengaging them from the wheels to permit the springs of the wheels and tumbler to return them to their normal positions.

15. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt carrying a stop, of a spring-retracted tumbler provided with projecting tips and a face-platehaving a slot to register with said stop, spring-retracted ratchet-wheels carrying studs to engage said tips and stop-studs, a driving device foreach wheel comprising a pawl and a detent having a spring connection therewith, both pivoted to a crank-arm, an operating-handle on a rock-shaft carrying said crank-arm and an extension on the detent to be engaged by the stop-stud on a wheel, and a hand-operated releasing device for the detents, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In a permutation-lock, the combination with a bolt carrying a stop, ofaspring-retracted tumbler provided with projecting tips and an adjustable face-plate having a slot to register with said stop, spring-retracted ratchetwheels having holes containing removable studs to engage said tips and carrying stopstuds, a driving device for each wheel com prising a pawl and a detent having a spring connection therewith, both pivoted to a crank-arm, an operating-handle on a rockshaft carrying said crank-arm and an extension on the detent to be engaged by the stopstud on a Wheel, and a hand-operated releasing device for the detents, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. In a perm utation-lock, the combination with a bolt carrying a stop, of a spring-retracted tumbler provided with tips projecting from its periphery and an adjustable faceplate having a slot to register with said step, spring-retracted ratchet-wheels having studs projecting from their sides to engage said tips, a driving device for each wheel comprising a pawl and a detent having a spring connection therewith, both pivoted to a crank-arm, and an operating-handle on a rock-shaft carrying said crank-arm, and a releasing device for the detents comprising rods connected therewith and a handle having lost-motion connection with said rods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In a pei'mi1tation-lock,tl1e combination with a bolt carrying a stop, of a spring-retracted tumbler provided with tips projecting from its periphery and an adjustable face-plate having aslot to register with said stop, springretracted ratchet-wheels having studs projecting from their sides to engage said tips, a

driving device for each wheel comprising a handles, forming a handle and having lostpawl and a detent having a spring connection motion connection with said rods, substantherewith, both pivoted to a crank-arm, and tially as and for the purposes set forth.

an operating-handle on arock-shaft carrying MORTIMER B. MILLS. 5 said crank-arm, and a releasing device for In presence of the detents comprising rods connected there- WALTER N. WINBERG,

with and a hinged cover for the operating- SAML. G. PRINCE. 

